Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today Andre Mells was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, Judge of the Superior Court, for the 2011 murder of Idris Denmark.
On Jan. 9, 2014, an Essex County jury convicted Mells, 27, of Irvington of murder for the May 29, 2011 shooting death of Denmark.
Denmark, 27, of Newark was shot ten times with two guns at 4:30 in the afternoon in New Hope Village on Norfolk Street in Newark, according to Assistant Prosecutor Portia Downing, who tried the case.
Following a four-day trial before Judge Ravin, the jury deliberated for approximately five hours before finding Mells guilty of murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Today, Judge Ravin sentenced Mells to 75 years in New Jersey State Prison. Mells will be eligible for parole in 63.75 years.
“This defendant forfeited his right to live in the community when he decided to pull out a gun and fatally shoot someone in broad daylight,” said Assistant Prosecutor Downing. “We were able to get a measure of justice for the family and the community because people were willing to come forward and testify. The bravery and cooperation of witnesses made was crucial to the successful prosecution of this case.’’
Prior to being convicted of this murder, Mells had 18 adult arrests and two prior felony convictions. In 2003 he was convicted of aggravated assault and in 2005 he was convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon.
